Gov. Jerry Brown has signed legislation that abolishes the obscure and overfunded agency that collects $2.6 million in annual taxes from San Diegans for a system of yellow roadside call boxes that have fallen out of demand.

But the tax will motor on.

Funds will instead go to the regional transportation agency known as the San Diego Association of Governments, which will use it to maintain the call-box system and for motorist safety projects.

The call-box bureacracy San Diego Service Authority for Freeway Emergencies had built up a $13 million reserve — 15 times its annual operating budget.

The board of elected officials from across the county was criticized for its unorthodox and often unsuccessful efforts to spend down accumulated money on things other than call boxes, as use dropped 93 percent.

San Diego Assemblymen Nathan Fletcher and Marty Block’s bill originally proposed to suspend the vehicle fee until 2016, and was later amended out of concern that it would be difficult to reinstate without voter approval.

The switchover to SANDAG could immediately free up $9 million of the agency’s reserves for cities and the county to spend on motorist aid or safety needs.

Tony Krvaric, chairman of the Republican Party of San Diego County, said the right thing to do would be to end the tax and refund the surplus.

“It’s clear the program is no longer needed and it’s highly disappointing that the fee will continue,” Krvaric said. “This is a prime example why the state is in the mess it’s in. If we have this much trouble eliminating a fee on a clearly obsolete program, it illustrates how difficult taxpayer-centered reform can be.”

The state legislation was drafted in consultation with San Diego City Council members Lorie Zapf, a Republican, and David Alvarez, a Democrat. Their concerns about the agency’s habits were featured in a lengthy story in San Diego CityBeat and a series of reports in the U-T Watchdog.

“The reform of this antiquated agency with massive reserves was a top priority of mine and was necessary to ensure taxpayer money is spent efficiently and transparently to enhance the safety of San Diego’s roads,” Alvarez said.

Santee Councilman John Minto, vice chairman of the sunsetting San Diego SAFE board, described the legislative effort as a money grab by San Diego. The city’s motorists paid the bulk of the vehicle tax. Under the old system, San Diego received a fraction of the proceeds because of the way the board allocated the money.

“If I wanted to be a real smart aleck about it, I would say it’s a typical story: The 800 pound gorilla beats up on the rest of the county,” Minto said. “But it is what it is. The main point is there is somebody to make sure that the freeways are safe. I know SANDAG will do that.”